View from the Pacific: ‘Climate change is real’

Government representatives from Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu spoke about the dangers of rising sea levels and extreme weather events for Pacific island nations, and urged the region to take action by conserving forests for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Children play in the water at Port Vila, Vanuatu. Rising sea levels as a result of climate change are a great concern for Pacific island nations. Photo: Ed Kruger

Leaders also pledged their commitment to conserving forests for better local resilience to climate change, among other benefits.

“Forests will continue to play a vital role in many countries within the Asia-Pacific region in contributing to national economic development, food security, employment and in supporting livelihoods in rural areas,” said Osea Naiqamu, Fiji’s Minister for Fisheries and Forests.

“Climate change is real for Fiji. Not only for Fiji, but for small islands states like Kiribati, Tuvalu, all those other small island states in the Pacific,” he added.

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